Question

The receptor cells for touch that reside in the skin are called a. tactile cilia. b. mechanoreceptors. c. interoceptors. d. receptive fields.

Short answer

The correct answer is b. mechanoreceptors.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Question

The question is asking about the specific name for the receptor cells associated with touch in the skin. This involves recognizing and recalling types of sensory receptors.

Analyze Each Option

Option a, 'tactile cilia,' refers to structures involved in sensing, but not specifically related to touch receptors. Option b, 'mechanoreceptors,' are the receptors in the skin responsible for sensing mechanical changes like touch or pressure. Option c, 'interoceptors,' detect internal stimuli within the body and are not located in the skin. Option d, 'receptive fields,' refer to the area over which a sensory neuron can detect stimuli, not the actual receptor cells.

Choose the Correct Answer

Based on the analysis, option b, 'mechanoreceptors,' is the correct term for the receptor cells in the skin responsible for touch.

Key concepts

Mechanoreceptors

Mechanoreceptors are specialized sensory cells in the skin. They play a key role in how we sense the world around us. These receptors detect mechanical changes, such as pressure, stretching, and vibration. When you touch something or feel a gentle breeze, mechanoreceptors are hard at work. There are different types of mechanoreceptors in the skin:

• Merkel cells: These respond to steady pressure and texture.
• Meissner's corpuscles: They detect light touch and changes in texture.
• Pacinian corpuscles: These are sensitive to deep pressure and vibrations.
• Ruffini endings: They sense skin stretching.

Each type of mechanoreceptor is adapted for a specific touch sensation it will detect. By having a variety of these receptors, our skin can provide detailed information about the touch environment. It is similar to having a multitasking team, where each member excels in different tasks.

Touch Perception

Touch perception is our ability to recognize and interpret the sensations of touch. It is how the brain makes sense of the information sent by the skin's receptors. This process is crucial for activities ranging from simple ones like feeling different fabrics to more complex interactions like typing on a keyboard. Here's how touch perception unfolds:

• First, mechanoreceptors in the skin detect a stimulus.
• Next, they send electrical signals through nerves to the brain.
• The somatosensory cortex in the brain processes these signals to create a sensation of touch.

Interestingly, touch perception is influenced by various factors, such as the intensity of a stimulus or the area of skin involved. Moreover, the organization of the somatosensory cortex helps prioritize different areas of the body to make touch perception more precise. For example, fingertips and lips, which are highly sensitive, occupy larger areas in the cortex than less sensitive areas.

Cutaneous Receptors

Cutaneous receptors are the sensory structures located within the skin. They are responsible for our sense of touch (also known as the tactile sense). These receptors can detect a variety of stimuli such as warmth, cold, pain, and of course, touch. There are several types of cutaneous receptors:

• Thermoreceptors: Detect changes in temperature.
• Nociceptors: Responsible for sensing pain.
• Mechanoreceptors: As previously noted, they respond to mechanical changes like touch.

Cutaneous receptors are distributed throughout the surface of the skin, but not evenly. Some areas have more receptors and are therefore more sensitive to touch. For example, the fingertips are packed with receptors to feel small vibrations and texture differences. The diverse range and specialization of cutaneous receptors enable humans to experience a detailed and nuanced sense of touch across different regions of the body. They make the skin one of the most complex and essential sensory organs.